Friday, June 4, 1999 Published at 18:17 GMT 19:17 UKWorld: South AsiaIndia slams 'dangerous' Kashmir claimsFighting is said to have spread to more areas along the border lineIndia has strongly criticised remarks by Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz that the Line of Control between the two countries in the disputed region of Kashmir is not clearly defined.

A government statement accused Pakistan of "manufacturing a rationale for aggression".

It said such "irresponsible" comments could have dangerous repercussions on the maintenance of peace and security.

"We call upon Pakistan to respect the sanctity of the Line of Control, give up its desperate and foolhardy attempts to change it, and to stop its cross-border terrorism against India," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

"The Line of Control is well defined and fully settled."

Preparing for talks

Mr Aziz's comments come as he prepares to travel to India next week for talks aimed at defusing the crisis over Kashmir and "prevention of further deterioration" in the situation there.

Refugees such as these students have fled fighting in Drass and Kargil

India says comments relating to the Line of Control (LoC) cannot be subjects for discussion.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had received a letter from President Clinton which indicated he had written to the Pakistani Prime Minister calling upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to defuse the crisis and respect the LoC.

The spokesman declined to reveal the text of the letter or provide any more details.

Pilot returned

Renewed artillery exchanges across the LoC came as captured Indian fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa was released by the Pakistani authorities as a gesture of "goodwill".